Signaling device for drive-in theaters



y 5, 1954 R. F. POORMAN ETAL 2,679,643

SIGNALING DEVICE FOR DRIVE-IN THEATERS Filed Aug. 17, 1948 2 SheetsSheet 1 --1( IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIJ 11/111 x:

y 5, 1954 R. F. POORMAN m1. 2,679,643

SIGNALING DEVICE FOR DRIVE-IN THEATERS.

Filed Aug. 17, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l --1 46 I L 4' l" l W I J Milfdw INVENTORS.

Patented May 25, 1954 SIGNALING DEVICE FOR DRIVE-IN THEATERS Robert F. Poorman, Arthur W. Kemp,

Autocrat Inc., Dayton,

Ohio

Demetrius G. Chakiris, and

Dayton,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio, assignors to Application August 17, 1948, Serial No. 44,716

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a signaling device and more particularly to an attachment for use in drive-in theater establishments and the like.

This application is related to copending application Serial Number 781,926 filed October 24, 1947, now Patent No. 2,463,339.

It is an object of this invention to provide a very simple and inexpensive arrangement for use by patrons of drive-in establishments for signaling for service.

More particularly it is an object of this invention to provide a low cost arrangement which may be installed in existing drive-in theater establishments.

It is another object of this invention to provide a self-contained unit which may be made at low cost and which may be installed on a junction box of a drive-in theater with a minimum expenditure of time and labor.

Still another object of this invention is to pro vide an attachment which may be installed in existing theater installations without the need for providing additional power lines or otherwise altering the existing equipment. More particularly it is an object to provide signaling means which operates on the power supplied to the loud speakers and which may be connected to existing terminals in standard junction boxes.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention reside in the construction and combination of parts and in the mode of operation as will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view partly in section showing a preferred embodiment of our invention as installed on the standard junction box;

Figure 2 is an elevational view showing a modified form of our invention as applied to a standard junction box;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing still another arrangement;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary circuit diagram of a standard drive-in theater speaker system;

Figure 5 shows the manner of connecting the signaling means shown in Figure 2 to the system shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 shows the circuit arrangement used in connecting the signaling means shown in Figure 3 of the drawings to the standard speaker system of Figure 4; and

Figure '7 shows the circuit arrangement used when using the device of Figure 1.

The desirability of providing means for occupants of cars in drive-in establishments to signal for service has long been recognized and a large number of arrangements of various types have been devised for this purpose. Thus it is common practice for the concession stand operator to provide each car entering the drive-in theater with a signal card or the like which is displayed by the occupants of the car whenever they want the attention of a car hop. Signaling systems of this type are not too satisfac tory in that not all patrons display the cards in conspicuous locations, and even when displayed in a conspicuous location, the card itself is not too conspicuous unless it is a luminous type of card which is expensive and not too practical. Signal systems requiring the use of special circuits or specially constructed junction boxes or speaker units have their place but are not the complete answer to the theater owner who has already installed a speaker system which does not include the wiring for operating signals. We have found that it is possible to provide a signal light and operating means therefor which may be installed in existing theaters at a very low cost and without the need for new junction boxes or special wiring and the like.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings wherein we have shown a very simple and practical embodiment of our invention, reference numeral Ill generally designates a self-contained unit which may be installed on,a conventional junction box and which includes not only the light but also the necessary switch means for controlling the operation of the light and also includes wires for use in connecting the signal-.

ing apparatus to the extisting terminals of a Junction box so as to provide the necessary current for operating the signal light. The unit I0 includes a two part housing having a stamped sheet metal main housing l2 which is remotely secured to a stamped sheet metal base It provided with a central aperture I6 through which a mounting bushing or ferrule I8 extends. The mounting bushing l8 not only serves to attach the base I 4 to a standard junction box 20 but also serves as a passage for the electrical leads 22 which extend down into the junction box and which are adapted to be connected to the existing power terminals located within the junction box, as will be explained hereinafter.

A neon light 24 is supported within a lamp socket 26 carried by the top wall of the stamping [0. A pair of toggle switches 28 are supported in the side Walls of the main housing 12, as

indicated in Figure 1 of the drawings, and serve to control the energization of the light 24. A resistance element 30 is also mounted within the main housing [2. By virtue of the above de scribed arrangement, it is apparent that the attachmentis a very simple and inexpensive selfcontained device which may be assembled at a factory and readily installed merely by drilling a hole in the top or one of the other walls of the junction box and connecting the leads 22 to the existing power terminals within the junction box.

In Figure 2 of the drawings wehave showna somewhat similar arrangement 'in which the sheet metal housing l2 of Figure :1 has been dispensed with and the signal light 24a has been mounted directly on the top wall of thejunction box 20 and a pair of light operating switches 28a, corresponding to the switches 28 of :Figure l, have been'mounted directly on the side wall of the junction box 20 as shown.

Figure 3 shows a slightly different arrangement in which a separate'lig'ht is provided for each of the cars parked next to the junction box. Thus the light 25, which is controlled by the switch '21 mounted at the end of a flexible cord 29, serves the occupants of the car parked on one side of the junction box, whereas a separate light 3!, controlled'by switch '33 mounted at the end of a flexible cord .35, serves .the occupants of the'car parked on the other side of the junction box. The flexible cords 29 and 135 are long enough to reach into the adjacent cars.

"In Figure 4 of the drawings we have shown a standard circuit of the type now commonly used in drive-in theaters in which separate speakers 32 and 34 are provided .for the cars parked on opposite sides of the junction box 20. As indicated therein, the junction box is provided with terminals 36 and 38 which are con-- nected to the main power lines '42 and 44 coming from the centrally located amplifier 4.6 which supplies power to'a large number of junction boxes such as the junction box 20. Each junction box usually has two speakers connected to it for serving the two cars parked on opposite sides or the junction box. A resistance '54'is provided in the-one side of the main power line, as shown, in accordance with .standard practice.

In order to avoid unnecessary description and repetition, Figures 1 through '7 of 'the drawings show only a fragmentary portion of the entire circuit which would normally be used.

For a more detailed disclosure of the motion picture project/or sound head 'and'the amplifier a circuit, reference'is hereby made to said copending application.

The arrangement disclosed in said copending application shows a switch mounted directly on the loud speaker housing i'or operating the light, whereas in existing theater intallations wherein the loud speaker housings are not 'equippedwith such a switch, it is desirable 'to use some other arrangement, the preferred arrangement being one in which the powerfor operating 'thesignals is supplied through'the power lines'l'ea'ding to the loud speakers.

In a standardoutdoor theater system, the junction boxes are each provided'with terminals 36 and 38 (see Figure '4) to which the main power lines 4 42 and 64, coming from the centrally located amplifier 46, supply power. These terminals have connections leading to a conventional transformer having a primary winding 50 and a secondary winding 52. The transformer and the terminals 30 and 38 are mounted within the junction box 20 which also houses a standard resistance 54 which is connected in series with the primary winding of the transformer, as shown. Loud speakers, such as the speakers 32 and 34, are connected in parallel to the secondary winding 52 of each transformer by means of suitable flexible leads 56.

Signaling apparatus of the the type disclosed in Figures 1 through 3 may be installed without in any way disturbing the standard wiring arrangement shown in Figure 4. Thus, the signalingunit-disdlosed inFigure 1 of the drawings may be added :merely by connecting the leads 22 to the terminals 35 and 38, as indicated in Figure '7 of the drawings. This may be done by merely drilling the hole 'lB in the top wall oi-the junction box 20 and then passing the leads 22 down through the hole f6 and connecting the same to the terminals '34 and 36 which 'form a standard part of every junction box.

In Figure 5 of the drawings there is diagrammatically'shown the circuit arrangement which is used for an installation of a signaling arrangement of the type illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings.

Figure 6 of the drawings diagrammatically shows th circuit arrangement used for an installation of the type shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

Although the preferred embodimentof the device has been described, it will be understood that within the purview-of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details,.proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the-objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described .our invention, we claim:

An attachment for use in combination witha junction box in a drive-in theater system wherein a pair of'loud speakers are connected to speaker energizing .power terminals within said junction box, signal light means, means for supporting said signal light means on said junction box, a resistance element in said junction box, switch means, a flexible cord extending from the switch means into the junction box, and means for connecting said signal light means, resistance element and the cord extendingto the switch means in series circuit relationship across'said terminals, the cord from the switch means permitting the switch means to be placed within .a car parked adjacent said junction box.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,128,013 Levinson "Feb. 9, 1915 1,828,901 Macy Oct. 27, 1931 2;463,339 Wetzel et a1 Mar. 1, 1949 2,469,986 Phyfe May 10, 1949 2,522,930 Chakins Sept. 19,-1-950 

